Albuquerque Local IQ: Border city boom in El Paso

Posted:
01/07/2013 11:08:59 AM MST

Stop into any drinking establishment in downtown El Paso for more than 30 minutes, and it is likely that someone will offer to buy you a shot of tequila. My first free shot came at a legendary downtown cantina called The Tap, where a unique assortment of Chicanos, cowboys and local bohemians gather to drink, dance and listen to live music just blocks from the border with Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

"You're not from around here," said Odalis, the Mexican cowboy who spotted me a shot of Don Julio añejo to go with my bottle of Lone Star beer. "No, I am not," I said.